Shoplifter armed with truncheon ANDREW Dunn armed himself with a wooden truncheon on the day he stole a pair of trainers from a shop in Ely. He had stuffed the weapon down his trousers, but handed it over when arrested for shop lifting. He had it for pro

Shoplifter armed with truncheon

ANDREW Dunn armed himself with a wooden truncheon on the day he stole a pair of trainers from a shop in Ely. He had stuffed the weapon down his trousers, but handed it over when arrested for shop lifting. "He had it for protection because he was being harassed by a number of people," solicitor Adam Hazelhurst explained to city magistrates on Thursday.

"When challenged, he was very straight with the police, and handed it over," said Mr Hazelhurst. Dunn, 25, of New Barns Avenue, Ely, admitted stealing a pair of £11.99 trainers from Gilesports in The Cloisters on March 22, and possessing the truncheon. Prosecuting, Olivia Gooding said Dunn put the stolen trainers in a child's buggy. As he left the premises the security alarm activated, and he ran off. When arrested, he produced the truncheon. The court ordered a pre-sentence report and gave Dunn unconditional bail until May 3.

Teenager charged

TEENAGER Faye Szulc has been charged with breaching her ASBO by using abusive or insulting words. Szulc, 18, of Clay Way, Ely, was given a two-year anti-social behaviour order last summer.

She is further accused of stealing a bottle of WKD Iron Bru from the One Stop store in Ely, and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in the city.

Szulc was unable to attend Ely courthouse on Thursday because she had been the victim of an assault.

The case was adjourned for seven days. A condition of her bail prevents her from going within 100 metres of the City of Ely College.

Damaged door

A TEENAGE girl who damaged a door at a young people's project was ordered to pay £100 compensation.

The 17-year-old, who admitted damaging the property belonging to Cambridge Housing, was also fined £20 at Ely youth court.

Warrant issued

A WARRANT was issued for the arrest of Sutton man John Smith when he failed to attend Ely courthouse on Thursday to answer a charge of assault.

Smith, 40, of York Road, is accused of assaulting Lorraine Hart on April 8.

Breached order

LITTLE Downham man Paul Fuller has admitted breaching his 18-month community order by missing four appointments with his probation officer.

Fuller, 44, of Orchard Estate, was given the order earlier this year, for an offence of theft from his employer.

He is further accused of dishonestly obtaining a job by failing to declare his previous convictions, and obtaining a bank account by deception, by giving a false address.

All matters were adjourned for a week by Ely magistrates.

Lost in translation

THE case of an Ely man facing a charge of threatening behaviour was adjourned for seven days, so a Lithuanian language interpreter can assist him at the city courthouse.

Romalidis Povilaitis, 51, of Norfolk Road, is alleged to have used threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour in Ely on April 6.

Swearing in city

FORMER Ely man Stephen Hearn has admitted using threatening behaviour in the city on April 7.

"Someone gave me a black eye and I started swearing," he told Ely magistrates on Thursday.

Hearn, 52, now living in Cambridge, will be sentenced by Cambridge magistrates on April 26.